The Shirt

“The Shirt” actually has nothing to do with a song, but Sue P, your previous statements were on point!. Barbara Crocker, I hope you are still following along. You illustrated perfectly, the attitude, and message, sent by surrounding towns, that fueled my creative juices while designing this shirt, as well as the New London lifestyle brand I'm trying to develop. I have only been in New London 6 years. In those six years I have formed a really solid love/hate relationship with this little, gritty city. At first, when I’d tell people where I bought a house, I’d chuckle along, or even agree with them when they talked down about it. New London has a stigma around her, we all know it. Fast forward a few years, and I’m done hearing the negativity about my home. The shirt is a veritable thumb in the eye of the naysayers and haters, the figurative raspberry in the face of our neighbor cities. They don’t like New London, they don’t like US. Well, we don’t need them. You know, part of the reason they speak ill of us, is because we like to get fired up over a things like a homeless man relieving himself in a fountain, or a t-shirt. We like to point fingers at neighbors instead of extending a helping hand. Zak demonstrated poor judgment by posting his pride online, not because it’s a terribly offensive T-shirt, but because he is under the scrutiny of an entire town, some of which, do not possess the advanced sense of humor that the shirt displays. Yes, he signed up for it. Yes, we pay his salary. I’m willing to bet though, that he has pumped a good portion of his yearly earnings, right back into this city. I can personally account for Twenty two of those dollars! Hasn’t every member of New London government, historically, made a bad judgment call? We all do from time to time. A t-shirt isn’t going to get the city burned down, just sayin’ #ShoutoutBenedictArnold (OK, Benedict Arnold wasn’t a New London politician. Not the point.) From my perspective, it was poor judgement to apologize for wearing the shirt, because to me, there is nothing to apologize for. I feel it should be celebrated, and carried down State Street on our shoulders!...Alas, I am not only biased, but I also understand the way things work, the "politics of it", if you will. I empathize with Zak, an the uncomfortable position the shirt has put him in ... Okay, he put himself in the shirt. Minor details. He had to apologize, this is the natural process of wardrobe related controversies. (See also: Super Bowl XXXVIII) I’m quite surprised more people don’t identify with the shirt, or understand the true statement of it: Raw, Unadulterated, Unfiltered, Uncut, USDA Prime, Home Grown New London Pride. It totally sums up the "diamond in the rough" feel of this place, the "Champagne Of Beers" prestige of it, and the potential solidarity we share as its community. In my eyes, the shirt really speaks for New London; it sticks up for New London. Do not push us around. New London reminds me of the movie “The Sandlot”: quite a rag-tag, beaten down, leathery, scrappy team that ends up coming together to get out of “the biggest pickle ever”. We need to come together and get ourselves out of more pickles, instead of throwing tomatoes at each other. “You’re killin’ me, Smalls!” This whole “issue” has nothing to do with the shirt. I’ve been wearing mine for months, so have about 25 -30 others spanning across the world, quite literally. There are at least three articles running on “The Patch” about this right now. All of my contact information is plastered all over the internet, including my personal phone number. My full name has been published; I have an Etsy shop, a Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter. I am 100% connected, available, and honest. I have nothing to hide, and I’m not afraid. A portion of those commenting on the matter, as well as one author, won’t even give their real name. Hey, the truth hurts some, I guess. All the availability anyone could ask for, and yet not one question has been posed to me over the shirt. So what this is again, is just another pathetic attempt at a political bitch-slap, started by someone who may or may not have any room to cast a stone. I always say “ You had better make sure your house is clean, before you comment on the dirt in mine.” This kind of stuff only feeds the laughter and criticism of surrounding areas. I met Zak just a short time ago, and was not aware of his position in local government. This gave me the unique opportunity to judge him on his character, actions, and integrity as a human being, rather than having already formed an opinion on him based upon what others say. I am a textbook shut-in. I am pessimistic, I trust no one, and do not generally, make a habit of forming new friendships. I really liked Zak, and the people he surrounded himself with (shout out Sean P. Murray, and Chum). I consider myself an excellent judge of character, and I think most that know me, would agree. Why don’t we extend Zak and his boss, the opportunity to REALLY screw up before we demand them to resign. Give them a little breathing room to prove their salt…. Or, for the opposing perspective: “give them just enough rope to hang themselves with”. I look at it this way: Zak resigns, and goes on to another town for a lateral position, and he’s asked “Why did you resign?” Do you think the interviewer could keep a straight face while Zak tried to explain some wacky story about a t-shirt.? However you may think the mayor and his staff have wronged the city so far, it “ain’t no worse off” than before it was left to them. I know that is nothing to put on the old resume, but he WAS vored in, correct? The city can’t be repaired by one mayor, and it isn’t tarnished by one executive assistant to the mayors’ cutting edge choice in fashion. It can, however, really benefit, when we stop giving surrounding areas fuel for their fire. “DON’T FEED THE BEARS”. In closing, if anyone would like the opportunity to challenge my poor grammar, New London pride, integrity, or, preferably would like a warm hug, I will be attending the “Rockn’ Rummage” Flea Market, held at the El ‘n’ Gee Club, this Sunday May 26 th at 9AM. In addition to free hugs, and overpriced, offensive T-shirts, I foremost sell my miserable attempt at artwork, some of which can be seen (and purchased WINK WINK) in the Hygienic Gallery until Saturday, in “The Crossing” show. Ryan Schrader